Alexis Sanchez absence from Manchester United tour 'down to visa issue'

Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez has reportedly failed to secure a visa for the club's tour of the United States.

Sanchez was a surprise absentee when United began their journey across the pond, and it had been suggested that the attacker had been given an extra period of rest.

However, according to BBC Sport, the Chile international has been unable to gain a visa after accepting a 16-month suspended sentence for tax fraud in Spain earlier this year.

The report says that US law prevents anyone found guilty of the crime from being granted access into the country, although United and Sanchez's lawyers are said to be working on the situation.

United are scheduled to play five games Stateside, starting with a fixture against Club America during the early hours of Friday morning.